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Taping the blades of hockey sticks dates back to the early 1900s. Back then, the equipment was exclusively made of wood and the tape protected the blade. Nowadays, you still find wood hockey-stick blades, but many are made of a blend of fiberglass, carbon fiber and composite material. Whether a player’s blade is wood or not, he still has good reason to tape it.

Surface Protection

Wood splinters, especially when it is worn away by consistent friction with the puck. By taping the wood blades of their hockey sticks, players protect the surface and edges from breakage, extending the life of their equipment.

Moisture Repellant

Moisture infiltrates wood and it can cause the material to warp. Hitting a puck with a bent-out-of-shape blade is as effective as playing ice hockey in your flip-flops. The porous wood absorbs the moisture from the ice rink unless it is sealed. Players use tape on their blades as a moisture repellant.

Puck Control

On the website ESPN the Magazine, retired professional ice hockey player Brian Rolston says that modern fiberglass hockey-stick blades are slippery and they do not make good contact with the puck. He says that wrapping them in hockey tape helps the player direct the puck and shoot it where it needs to go. Another ice hockey retiree, Bobby Nystrom, adds that when a player receives a pass, the tape around his blade cushions the hit, keeping the puck from bouncing off.

The Tape

In “Hockey Made Easy: Instructional Manual,” author John Shorey recommends taping hockey-stick blades with hockey tape or black cloth friction tape. While some players use electrical tape, the two other types have a sticky surface that makes it easier for the blade to grip the puck and direct it. And although there’s an abundance of decorative hockey tape to please every style preference, Shorey points out that black tape matches the puck’s color and it helps to hide its exact location. This could keep the puck from being stolen before you make your move.

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About the Author

Emma Watkins writes on finance, fitness and gardening. Her articles and essays have appeared in "Writer's Digest," "The Writer," "From House to Home," "Big Apple Parent" and other online and print venues. Watkins holds a Master of Arts in psychology.